Exodus 21:6

⁴ If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.

⁵ But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children; I do not want to go free,’

then his master is to bring him before the judges. And he shall take him to the door or doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he shall serve his master for life.

⁷ And if a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as the menservants do.

⁸ If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master who had designated her for himself, he must allow her to be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, since he has broken faith with her.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: then his master is to bring him before the judges. And he shall take him to the door or doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he shall serve his master for life.
KJV: Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.
WEB: then his master shall bring him to God, and shall bring him to the door or to the doorpost, and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him forever.
ASV: then his master shall bring him unto God, and shall bring him to the door, or unto the door-post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever.
DARBY: then his master shall bring him before the judges, and shall bring him to the door, or to the door-post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall be his bondman for ever.
BLB: then his lord shall bring him to the judges. And He shall bring him to the door or to the doorpost, and his lord shall pierce his ear with an awl, and he shall serve him forever.

ÅB: da skal hans herre føre ham fram for Gud[^1] og stille ham ved døren eller ved dørstolpen, og hans herre skal stikke en syl gjennom hans øre, og han skal tjene ham all sin tid.
OTB: da skal hans herre føre ham frem for Gud. Han skal føre ham til døren eller dørstolpen og stikke hull på hans øre med en syl, og han skal tjene ham permanent.
B1930: da skal hans herre føre ham frem for Gud og stille ham ved døren eller ved dørstolpen, og hans herre skal stikke en syl gjennem hans øre, og han skal tjene ham all sin tid. / < d.e. de av Gud innsatte dommere.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Deuteronomy 15:17
then take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door, and he will become your servant for life. And treat your maidservant the same way.
Read in context
Leviticus 25:40
Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 19:17–18
both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time.
Read in context
1 Samuel 28:2
David replied, “Then you will come to know what your servant can do.” “Very well,” said Achish. “I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
Read in context
1 Samuel 27:12
So Achish trusted David, thinking, “Since he has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel, he will be my servant forever.”
Read in context
Leviticus 25:23
The land must not be sold permanently, because it is Mine, and you are but foreigners and residents with Me.
Read in context
1 Samuel 1:22
but Hannah did not go. “After the boy is weaned,” she said to her husband, “I will take him to appear before the LORD and to stay there permanently.”
Read in context
Exodus 22:8–9
If the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges to determine whether he has taken his neighbor’s property.
Read in context